Liverpool have it all to play for in this afternoon’s clash with Middlesbrough, as Jurgen Klopp’s side seek a victory that will assure them of a spot in next season’s Champions League.
With the Reds tackling a side that has already been relegated from the Premier League, fans in the bar believe three points are inevitably set to be secured and are therefore urging their German manager to make some surprise changes to his line-up.
They believe the final day of the Premier League season is the perfect opportunity for Liverpool to experiment with their team selection and our landlord agrees that a fresh outlook in their squad could provide them with a catalyst to victory.
Roared on by the Anfield faithful, the chance of featuring in the Premier League this weekend could be crucial to some fringe players within the Reds’ squad and the punters in the bar have named two players they’d love to see handed a rare opportunity.
Ben Woodburn
17-year-old midfield ace Ben Woodburn has made quite the impression on Jurgen Klopp this season, resulting in five Premier League appearances- although that just equates to 84 minutes of Premier League action altogether.
The next in the teenager’s development is regular football and playing on the final day of the season is the perfect opportunity to assess whether the best course of action would be for him to compete for first-team openings at Anfield or move elsewhere on-loan.
Marko Grujic
21-year-old Serbian ace Marko Grujic has, like Woodburn, accumulated five Premier League appearances this season but all of those opportunities have come off the bench and the exciting winner has accumulated just 36 minutes of top-flight football.
With the return to European venture next season, Liverpool’s squad depth will be tested and Grujic deserves the opportunity to show he’s capable of going toe-to-toe with the strongest of opponents- and a final day clash with already-relegated Middlesbrough is the perfect opening for the youngster.
